Trust Nothing or No One But God

It is a human instinct to trust in one’s resources. It takes supernatural grace by God to enable us to trust not in ourselves but in Him.

In Deuteronomy 17:14-16, the following instructions are given to kings – “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.”

God warned the king about accumulating too much wealth or multiple wives or too many horses. Why? Why would God NOT want the king to multiply or increase the number of his horses? Answer – He didn’t want kings to fuel their temptation to glory in their own accomplishments. He didn’t want them to trust in their own resources.

The psalmist reminds us, “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 33:16-19). To trust in God’s creation or man’s technology for deliverance is “a vain hope.”

Psalm 44:3-7 reads, “For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us.”

Trust, boast and praise should not be directed to the wrong objects but only to God Himself and not on man’s accomplishments or inventions or wisdom. Trusting in the God of armies is better than trusting in armies.

Do we ever need this humility and honesty in America!

We love our military technology and ginormous air-craft carriers and insanely fast fighter jets and brave, wise, and strong infantry. And while I am not dogging patriotism or supporting your soldiers and your country, to place your trust in them is wrong and steals God of His deserved glory.

Put not your trust not in man. The truth is out there. Trust God to find it.